senate Bill S. 2633

Should Animals Freed From Fighting Rings be Available for Adoption Sooner?

Argument in favor

The cost of caring for animals seized in animal fighting cases is currently a barrier to investigating and prosecuting these crimes. Additionally, the length of time that animals need to be held in shelters is detrimental to their physical and mental health.

I wholeheartedly support this and any other bill that throws the cost of rehabilitation for the animals and rehoming them back on the perpetrators involved in their abuse. Likewise for the expenses involved in their prosecution. These animals should be given every opportunity to be put back into loving homes as soon as is reasonable.

What the Hell is wrong with you people! Now you want to regulate chicken fighting? Damn it read the Constitution, do YOUR job! This is what you’re wasting time on? When’s the last time you passed a budget? Have still 100s to approve of president’s nominees. You wonder why people have more respect for realtors and used car salesmen!

I voted Nay to being available for adoption sooner just because in my opinion these animals have been trained for fighting and need to be rehabilitated professionally before integrating them into a home where they could potentially encounter other animals and engage in an aggressive manner due to how they were conditioned to fight. But I definitely support measures penalizing those who engage in such inhumane practices and do believe eventually these animals should be available for adoption into caring homes, but only after they are rehabilitated/domesticated properly.

What is Senate Bill S. 2633?

This bill — known as the Help Extract Animals from Red Tape (HEART) Act of 2018 — would expedite the disposition process for animals seized in federal animal fighting cases, hold offenders financially responsible for the care of animals in custody, and allow courts to take animals’ welfare into account when considering legal delays.

Specifically, this bill would:

Accelerate the disposition process by reducing the notice period following the seizure of animals under federal animal fighting or gambling statutes from 60 to 30 days;

Require courts to consider animals’ welfare and costs to the government when seeking to extend the notice period;

Require claimants to reimburse the costs of caring for animals seized in federal animal fighting cases when the government prevails in civil forfeiture proceedings; and

Give judges to discretion to allow the consideration of the claimant’s culpability, financial condition, and other factors when requiring and determining the reimbursement.

“All animals must be treated humanely, free from cruelty and abuse, as they often become extended members of our families. We must do all we can to ensure that the welfare of these animals who have been victims of cruelty is a priority, and remove any red tape that prevents them from being properly and safely cared for.”

“Animals who have been rescued from cruelty and abuse deserve to be placed in loving homes as soon as it is safely possible. Our legislation, which is based on recommendations by the Department of Justice’s Animal Cruelty Roundtable, would reduce the minimum amount of time animals must be held in shelters and alleviate the financial burdens that fall on those who care for seized animals. I have long advocated for policies that improve the welfare of animals, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to help protect animals that have experienced inhumane treatment.”

“When the ASPCA assists law enforcement during dogfighting raids, we often find dogs—even puppies—tethered to heavy chains, living without food, water or proper shelter, and horrifically wounded and scarred. After medical attention and rehabilitation, many dogs rescued from these cruel situations can go on to enjoy happy lives in loving homes. But sadly, in many instances animals can suffer in limbo while the abusers’ court cases progress through an often slow-moving legal system. The lengthy holding periods in federal animal fighting cases can result in debilitating stress and health problems for the animals involved, even when shelters provide high-quality care. Also, the astronomical cost of holding and caring for seized animals for long periods unnecessarily burdens animal protection groups and local shelters. These problems can discourage future animal fighting investigations, meaning fewer animals get saved. The HEART Act (H.R. 398/S. 2633) seeks to address these issues by requiring the owners of animals seized in federal animal fighting cases to be responsible for the cost of their care. The bill will also expedite the processes to get these animals rehabilitated and adopted into safe and loving homes faster.”

What the Hell is wrong with you people! Now you want to regulate chicken fighting? Damn it read the Constitution, do YOUR job! This is what you’re wasting time on? When’s the last time you passed a budget? Have still 100s to approve of president’s nominees. You wonder why people have more respect for realtors and used car salesmen!

I wholeheartedly support this and any other bill that throws the cost of rehabilitation for the animals and rehoming them back on the perpetrators involved in their abuse. Likewise for the expenses involved in their prosecution. These animals should be given every opportunity to be put back into loving homes as soon as is reasonable.

I voted Nay to being available for adoption sooner just because in my opinion these animals have been trained for fighting and need to be rehabilitated professionally before integrating them into a home where they could potentially encounter other animals and engage in an aggressive manner due to how they were conditioned to fight. But I definitely support measures penalizing those who engage in such inhumane practices and do believe eventually these animals should be available for adoption into caring homes, but only after they are rehabilitated/domesticated properly.

Animals should have the right to good homes. I am all on board for this.
I only see some issues in speeding up the adoption process, but I think it’s worth it.
Animals should be able to go to good homes.

There’s no reason for animals to linger in temporary boarding, increasing costs to taxpayers and injuring the potential adoptability of the animal due to lack of socialization, any longer than absolutely necessary. Once the animal is seized, rehabilitation should begin immediately, and placement made as soon as possible.

As long as medical treatments are already progressing and personality testing has been completed, there’s no reason to delay foster or permanent placement. And ABSOLUTELY hold those responsible FISCALLY, and every other way possible. Whether it’s chickens or dogs or anything else, these jerks need to learn their lesson that this is wrong, and money is possibly the only punishment they’ll respond to.

Absolutely. There are bait dogs that are abused that need to be a safe loving environment. The Victory dogs. Those who say need to get educated on this issue instead of making poor assumptions. Michale Vick’s dogs show that they can be adopted and adopted sooner depending on their role in dog fighting. Read about the Victory Dogs. Michael Vick deserves to be punished for animal cruelty